History of  5th  Battalion Wiltshire Rifles  

The Battalion Formed at Devizes in August 1914, as part of K1 (The first wave of Kitchener’s Armies).  Between the 6-16th July 1915, Divisional infantry landed on Cape Helles (Gallipoli).  At the end of the month they were pulled out and returned to Mudros, and then the entire Division landed at ANZAC Cove between 3-5th August 1915.  It was in action immediately, and fought on to the end of August, when it was transferred from ANZAC to Suvla Bay.  Cyril Cook was killed on 15th December 1915, whilst on Brigade fatigues.  This was just before the final evacuation of Suvla Bay (19-20 December 1915). On 12 February 1916 the Division began to move to Mesopotamia, to strengthen the force being assembled for the relief of the besieged garrison at Kut al Amara. By 27 March 1916 it had assembled near Sheikh Sa'ad and came under orders of the Tigris Corps.

Name    Cyril Edward Cook      
Rank      Private
Unit       5th Bn
Age       17
DoD      15 December 1915
service  #  9612
Grave    Helles Memorial

Name    Edwin John Woodroff      
Rank      Private
Unit       5th Bn
Age       19
DoD      10 April 1916
service  #  14131
Grave    Basra Memorial

Name    Thomas James Eggleton     
Rank     Private
Unit      5th Bn
Age       23
DoD      29 March 1917
service  #  21037
Grave   Basra Memorial